Faculty of Art

Criticism and Curatorial Practice

Avery Geboers

A Book From Seed and Soil

"A Book From Seed and Soil" is a handmade, linen book that explores the cycles of Linum usitatissimum (Flax) and our (human) relationships to the plant. The cycles examined are not just of life and death, but the cycles of knowledge, and interaction as the use of flax and linen continually change. Inspired by the "Liber Linteus Zagrabiensis", one of the oldest texts printed on linen. It remains mostly untranslated, however it is thought to be a holy text outlining various sacred rituals. "A Book From Seed and Soil" is made completely from Flax in a variety of forms. The pages are from linen paper pulp and each tell its story through the use of flax plants, roots, seeds and stems from various life stages and levels of processing, and is bound together with linen thread. It relies on visual language over written language. Similarly to the Liber Linteus, it is to be thought of as a sacred text, outlining best practices and ‘rituals’ for using and engaging with Flax.